Posted 1:40 am Friday, February 26, 2010
TISD, UT Tyler Partnership May Aid Struggling Middle Schools
By EMILY GUEVARA
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
A proposed agreement between Tyler ISD and The University of Texas at Tyler could provide some solutions for struggling schools, officials said.
TISD Superintendent Dr. Randy Reid told board members Thursday that the district has been in the process of discussing a partnership with the university. If enacted, this partnership would provide support to specific TISD campuses that have failed to meet federal standards for several years in a row.
"We have some great teachers at all of these campuses right now -- they're doing yeoman's work," Reid said. "But we need additional support … if we want to get a different result, we've got to start infusing some new thoughts, some new pedagogy, and some new strategy."
The idea came on the heels of news about one of the district's six middle school campuses.
Dogan Middle School is in Stage 3 of sanctions after failing to meet the federal education standard in math for four years. If the middle school misses the mark again this year, it would move into Stage 4 and the district would have to prepare for more severe measures.
It was these measures that Reid made board members aware of at the meeting.
Though none of them are on the table at this point, the next stage would require district officials to start thinking about a reconstitution of the campus.
This could mean anything from reopening the school as a charter school, to replacing campus staff, to turning the school's operation over to the state, according to information on the Texas Education Agency Web site. There are several options.
However Reid was clear that that the district is not hoping for this result, just preparing for the possibility.
"Even though we expect the best and we hope for the best, we have to be prepared if that does come," he said. "These are the laws. We don't have a choice when we get to Stage 4 or Stage 5 at this school."
Reid said the support available from a partnership with UT Tyler could prove beneficial not only to Dogan but also to other campuses such as Stewart and Boulter middle schools.
At this time, the idea is to place UT Tyler student teachers into Dogan and Stewart middle schools. The student teachers would work with the lead teachers engaging students in project-based activities that allow for more hands-on learning and student-to-student interaction.
The student teachers also could work individually or in small groups with struggling students, Reid said. Lead teachers would have access to some of the cutting-edge ideas coming out of the university system.
Reid said the program would start in sixth grade and later be expanded to seventh and eighth grades.
At Boulter, the university would help implement a specialized engineering program. This would serve as sort of a precursor to a STEM Academy. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math. And the program could provide a different way for reaching students in the areas of math and science.
William Geiger, dean of UT Tyler's College of Education and Psychology, said he has little doubt the program would benefit TISD students.
"I believe that having those students in there would make a difference just in terms of student/teacher ratio, but I want to see," Geiger said.
UT Tyler plans to analyze data this summer about the impact its regular student teachers have on TISD student performance. This could shed light on how student teachers could help TISD students in the more specialized partnership Reid is proposing.
Board member reaction to the idea varied.
District 1 Trustee Eleno Licea questioned the effectiveness of such a plan. He said he had full confidence in the ability of UT Tyler students and faculty, but just wanted to make sure it would truly improve student performance and fall in line with Texas Education Agency standards.
District 1 Trustee Eleno Licea questioned the effectiveness of such a plan. He said he had full confidence in the ability of UT Tyler students and faculty, but just wanted to make sure it would truly improve student performance and fall in line with Texas Education Agency standards.
District 2 Trustee the Rev. Orenthia Mason expressed her support if the partnership was for the long term. She was pleased with the prospect for more engaging and interactive instruction for the students.
Reid said he expects to present a proposal at next month's regular meeting for the board to consider.
In addition to hearing this report from Reid, the board approved the creation and implementation of a "University Ready" course. This course would provide students the opportunity to learn more about college and the application process. The idea is to pilot the program among a small group of students at either one or both TISD high schools and then expand it as needed, Reid said.
OTHER ITEMS
The board approved the 2009-2010 amended budget, gifts and donations, the general election order, an interlocal agreement for conducting the school board elections, HVAC bids for John Tyler High School, the electrical retrofit at John Tyler and Robert E. Lee high schools and a change order for Jones/Boshears Center.
Trustees also approved the 2010-11 school calendar for the St. Louis School and a general state waiver.
